South African outdoor enthusiasts are about to encounter something brand new!

Since its introduction in 2008, the Nissan TrailSeeker has become a highlight for mountain bikers with its exciting and innovative creation of trails in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

The action-packed single day event has drawn pros, weekend warriors and families alike with varying distances and routes that cater for everyone.

A new world for adventure seekers is about to be opened up, however, as the Nissan TrailSeeker introduces the addition of an exclusive event for trail runners in 2018.

The mountain bike event on Saturday will now be followed by a trail running event on Sunday, which will also offer various distances – namely a 5km, 10km and 21km trail. A technical (but doable) challenge will be incorporated into the 21km route in particular.

As with all Advendurance events, competitors can expect only the utmost level of professionalism. A seeding system will be used for trail runners looking to measure and track their progress over the course of the series.

An added bonus will be a goodie bag that comes with each entry, the unique provision of hot showers to freshen up after the event, top notch infrastructure, ladies’ specific toilets, shade and seating, and the best medics in the business.

Both spectators and participants will also certainly enjoy a fully equipped race village with separate start and finish points, food stalls, a beer tent and a lekker vibe.

Race director Francois Theron comments on the addition of trail running events: “We’re just really passionate about bringing cool outdoor experiences to people, and in a way that is sustainable, affordable and gives people great value. So we partnered with Nissan to bring the TrailSeeker flavour to the trail running scene and look forward to the year ahead!”

On 4 November it was family fit day out at Mont Marie Stellenbosch for the Annual Anna Basson Properties trail run. The race catered for young and old, big and small, fit and not-so-fit with the 10km, 5km or 1,5km trails.

The day could not have been any more perfect with a cool morning breeze but the most beautiful sunshine day following 2 days of pouring rain. The mountain took the conditions well and gave the participants perfect trails. The route itself was challenging with mostly uphill for the first part of the race but a fantastic downhill finish for the last 2.5km from “baboons guts”.

The prize money on the day added up to a total of R14 500 which made the first 3 place winners in the 5km and 10km smile all the way and running to the bank. There were over 20 different lucky draw prizes including watches, fragrances, wines, dinner and shopping vouchers, spa treatments which made all participants wait in anticipation for their names to be called.

Congratulations on a well organized race by Amoija events and a great partnership with Anna Basson Properties to invest in health, family and celebrating life!

EASTERN CAPE, GARDEN ROUTE – On Saturday, 28 October 2017, Tsitsikamma National Park on the Garden Route in the Eastern Cape was buzzing with the country’s finest trail runners, and a few international stars, gathering to do battle on the world-renowned Otter African Trail, a gruelling 44km race considered the benchmark of technical marathon-distance trail running.

Two of these athletes were Capetonians, Christiaan Greyling (Jeep/ Salomon/ Garmin), and Robyn Owen (Jeep/ Best 4 Sports/ Salomon). They were among 232 athletes all eager to stake their claim on the “The Grail of Trail.”

In both the men’s and women’s race, the terrain of the first section of the race favoured the technical runner requiring immense skill, speed and agility. Kane Reilly, top-5 Marathon de Mont Blanc finisher, took the lead ahead of Greyling by the first checkpoint, 20km into the race.

Despite the ensuing challenge from Reilly and Robert Rorich, whose speed had put them only minutes behind Greyling at the Bloukrans river crossing, Greyling held true to his current form and race plan, and took the lead with just 7km to go to take home his biggest win this year. He crossed the line in a total time of 04h13m15s, just under 12 minutes ahead of Reilly in second and Rorich in third, and breaking the South African record.

“I am blessed to celebrate winning the Otter African Trail Run in the fastest SA time ever – 4:13:15! I ran a race of no regret and gave my everything! Two years of Otter podium finishes and 4 years of working towards my personal goals. This race taught me so much in life about goal setting, patience, discipline, hard work and faith. The Otter is a world-class event and a special trail to me. It was a privilege to run with my Salomon teammates Robyn, Kane, Meg and Thabang,” says Greyling.

In the women’s race, Owen’s rock-running skill gave her a slight advantage holding the lead against her challenger, Meg Mackenzie. But the ever-improving Mackenzie took the lead and held a 4-minute advantage going into the last quarter of the race. Owen held her own, but dropped off the pace slightly, finishing 8 minutes behind winner, Mackenzie. Third place went to Carla Van Huyssteen in a time of 05h34m44s.

“What a weekend! I had a great run along the spectacular Otter Trail, and I am more than stoked to finish 2nd behind the new Otter African Trail Run Champion, Meg Mackenzie,” concluded Owen.

Trail runner Christiaan Greyling (Jeep Team SA/Salomon/Garmin), after his recent Top 12 result in the 110km Ultra Pirineu, is back on home soil and ready for the coveted Otter Run, a race that is considered the benchmark of technical marathon-distance trail running.

The 44km Otter Trail is regarded as one of the finest ‘hikes’ in the world. Alternating East to west and west to east each year, this year, the event will be run from East to West, starting at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp and finishing at De Vasselot Camp Site, Natures Valley.

It includes four river crossings, over 2600 metres of elevation and eleven significant climbs along a relentlessly technical coastal route.

Greyling, who has competed in the race five times, ran his first Otter in 2011, posting a time of just under 5h30m. Since then he has run the race almost 20 minutes faster each year, and this year he is believing big!

“I believe I can do a sub-4, but I’m not sure when. Based on my run last year, I am aiming for 4h10m, but that all depends on my recovery and preparation over the past few weeks abroad. I prefer the Classic, running from Storms River to Nature’s Valley, as I love the first technical section and will be able to maintain a good position among the speedsters,” said Greyling.

Greyling will have a huge fight on his hands as the field is stacked with South Africa’s finest trail champions including Kane Reilly who earlier this year achieved a top-5 finish at the Marathon de Mont Blanc in the French Alps. Other top contenders are winner of this year’s 53km Merrell Whale of Trail Challenge, Rory Scheffer, and 2015 Skyrunning African Champ, Thabang Madiba.

In the women’s race, defending champion and record holder, Robyn Owen (Jeep Team/Best4Sports) will have her work cut out for her as she competes against the likes of two-time winner, Landie Greyling, who is in great shape and capable of a 4h30m finish this year, and the ever-improving Meg Mackenzie who won the Hout Bay Trail Challenge.

Owen is in great shape though and is now competing full time as an adventure athlete. She has come leaps and bounds since last year and is stronger than ever. Owen for Gold.

The 2017 Otter African Trail Run kicks off on Friday, 27 October 2017, with registration and the prologue, a 3.5km time-trial run to determine seeding for the main event on Saturday, 28 October 2017.